Common Name: Panda, Giant Panda

Scientific Name: Ailuropoda Melanoleuca


Physical Description: The Giant Panda is one of the most recognizable animals in the world, with its stocky build and striking color contrast of black and white patches. The Panda has large black fur patches over its eyes, most of its torso and head are white and its back, legs and ears are black. The coloring acts as camouflage when the Panda moves across the snow.

Interestingly, the front paw of this animal has six digits, one acting much like a thumb, and helps the Panda hold and eat bamboo, its main food source. Adult Giant Pandas range in body length from about 64 to 76 inches (160 to 190 centimeters). Males are slightly longer than females and about 10 to 20 percent heavier. In the wild, males weigh from 190 to 275 pounds (85 to 125 kilograms) while females range between 155 to 220 pounds (70 and 100 kilograms). At birth, cubs weigh less than half of a pound, usually around 3 to 5 ounces (85 to 140 grams). The Panda is also skilled at climbing trees and can also swim. The soles of its feet have hairs that give it traction and reduce heat lost when walking on cold ice or snow. There is still disagreement over whether the Panda is a bear or a raccoon. Some scientists feel it belongs in its very own category.


Habitat and Range: Although they were once more widespread, Pandas are now found only in southwestern China, along the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. They live in the mountain ranges in the provinces of Sichuan, Shaanzi, and Gansu, at an altitude between 3,500 and 11,000 feet.

The temperate forests they inhabit are a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees with bamboo and rhododendron on the forest floor. A blanket of heavy clouds, rain and mist cover these mountains year round. Home ranges for males average about 3 square miles (8 square kilometers) and 2 square miles (4.2 square kilometers) for females. The home range of one male will usually overlap and include those of several females.

Behavior: Pandas are basically solitary creatures, although males and female living in the same area are likely to be familiar with each other and even interact once in awhile. Pandas are surprisingly vocal animals and in the wild, eleven distinct calls have been identified, though their meanings are unknown. Even though it turns cold in the forest, Pandas do not hibernate.

They just move to lower elevations during the winter to stay warm and then move to higher elevations in the summer to stay cooler. Pandas do not have permanent homes either, like caves, but they will sleep at the bottom of a tree, under an old stump or any other sheltered place they find. They are active mostly at twilight and during the night.


Reproduction & Breeding: Pandas become sexually mature between 4 and 6 years of age. Pandas mate during the spring, from March to May. During this time several males may compete for access to one female. The cubs are born in August or September, usually in a cave or hollow tree. Usually between one to three cubs but usually only one survives and is reared. Cubs are weaned at around 8 or 9 months but may remain with their mothers until 18 months or older.


Diet: Giant pandas live almost solely on bamboo, eating up to 35 pounds a day. Adults consume about 25 to 35 pounds (11 to 15 kilograms) of food per day when feeding on bamboo leaves and stems. They feed mainly on the ground but can also climb trees very well too. Pandas may also eat flowers, vines, grasses, honey and sometimes even rodents.

Interesting Facts: The lovable and adorable Panda is one of the most popular animals in the world. It is also one of the most endangered. The Giant Pandas are the recognized international symbol of endangered species. WWF, World Wildlife Fund, has been working to save the Giant Panda in the wild through education and habitat conservation.

There are little more than 1,000 individual Pandas remaining in the wild. The Panda's main threats are deforestation, destruction of its habit, baboon shortage and poaching. Also, Giant pandas do not breed well in captivity, making captive breeding programs hard to succeed. There are about 100 Giant Pandas in captivity with the majority of those in China. In North America, only the San Diego Zoo in California and the National Zoo in Washington have Giant pandas.

Guardians of Wildlife      More articles


This set made exclusively for the express use of Women for Mother Earth - Guardians of Wildlife by Sister ShyAngel and may not be copied in whole or part.
Copyright ©2000-2003.

Content ©2000-2003 Women for Mother Earth.